Broadcasting
How BlackHouse Media is Spearheading the Future of PR and Communications in Africa
By David Adeleke
BHM, a global Public Relations and Communications agency based in Nigeria and the UK, is launching the first-ever Africa Public Relations and Communications Report on July 16, 2022.
This development comes five years after the BHM launched the Nigeria Public Relations Report to place Nigeria on the global communications industry map by gathering insights and analysis from experts and examining the challenges and opportunities within Nigeria’s fast-growing Public Relations industry.
The success of the Nigeria Public Relations Report has revealed the need to replicate the quality and depth of insights on a continental scale. 2022 will make it two years since the COVID-19 pandemic struck and changed life as we know it forever. It has impacted every sphere of human life, from interpersonal relationships to corporate communications and international relations.
For Africa, these changes were profound and mostly unfamiliar. This was partly due to high levels of poverty and illiteracy and the insufficient quality of the infrastructure that make health communication more seamless and effective.
Africa’s cities are home to a growing population of 600 million people, and they account for over 50% of the continent’s GDP, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). When this is viewed against the backdrop of the sudden unemployment crisis caused by the pandemic, it is easy to understand the massive impact that COVID-19 had on the economy. Firms and businesses, especially SMEs, which account for 80% of employment in Africa, have been shaken to their core, with the cost of living jumping by over 100% in the past year.
As the search for solutions to help adjust to this new reality continues, the dissemination of quality information will help the continent and cross-border relations. This is why the new Africa Public Relations Report aims to bridge the divide and reduce the staggering effects of the pandemic on the countries in the continent and their various PR and Communications industries.
Access to this type of information will help influence policymaking and corporate practice on every level of human association within businesses, schools, families, public service, and so on.
This visible need for data-inspired the World Bank to create the World Development Report for 2021, fittingly tagged “Data For Better Lives”. According to the bank, the availability of an accurate compendium can propel social and economic growth on all levels in the world ecosystem. Data gathered from one source can go on to inform change in many ways.
The numerous benefits of high penetration of information can be seen in other countries where similar reports are created regularly. In Los Angeles, the Relevance Report is handled by the Centre of Public Relations at the University of Southern California.
The report is published annually alongside the Global Communications Report and is a collection of essays and trend pieces from PR industry leaders and USC academics. This year’s edition addresses the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the social justice protests on the PR industry.
Contributors include corporate executives from leading global PR firms like Golin, Edelman and Peppercomm. It also consists of input from top communication leaders from Google, Disney, AEG, and IBM.
In New York, PRovoke Media, formerly known as the Holmes Report, helps provide knowledge, information and analysis of the PR business and its stakeholders. They do this through provokemedia.com, where they publish regular case studies, original reports, and research. They also publish a free weekly global newsletter featuring professional industry insights and a crisis review, which chronicles the lessons learned from the biggest PR crises of the year.
By taking a leaf from its book and that of other global PR powers, BHM positions itself as a major industry player in it for the long run. It will expand and serve as a reference point for the PR and Communications industry across Africa. The Africa Public Relations report will serve as a well-rounded mirror that helps the world understand the way Africa sees itself, the way the world sees Africa, and the way Africa sees the world.
David Adeleke is a writer, media analyst, and communications strategist with over seven years of experience in media and technology.
Three radio stations lost their electronic broadcasting equipment worth millions on Saturday night in Aba, Abia state, when they were gutted by fire.
The affected radio stations were Enyimba 94.3 FM, Rose 101.9 FM and Legend 98.3 FM which were all located in the same building located o on the PZ axis of Aba-Owerri Road.
But for the intervention of the officials of the Abia State Fire Service, the fire may have spread to other buildings within the vicinity.
No life was lost in the raging inferno.
According to The Nation, a personnel of the Abia State Fire Service, who pleaded anonymity, called on owners of big factories and companies to procure fire extinguishers and hydrants to help assist manage and attack fire during such incident.
Dr. Ngozi Fidelia Anyaegbunam, veteran journalist and author, has passed on. She was aged 67.
Ngozi Anyaegbunam
A statement by Rocky C. Agbese, the deceased’s family signed by her son, said she died after a brief illness.
“With gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the untimely death of Dr Ngozi Fidelia Anyaegbunam after a brief illness,” Agbese said.
He described the deceased as a trailblazing journalist who had editorial stints with Champion Newspaper at its pioneer female editor and later with the Daily Times where she authored the book titled, ‘Waziri Ibrahim: Politics Without Bitterness’.
“Subsequent to these, she became a full-time media management consultant to numerous blue chip companies,” the statement said.
She held the distinction of being a female print media journalist to interview two sitting Nigerian Presidents – Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari.
The statement further described her as a dedicated and loving mother, grandmother, sister, cousin and friend, noting that, “Auntie Ngozi will be sorely missed by all who came across her and were impacted by her larger than life presence. Rest in Peace till we meet to part no more.”
The statement added that funeral arrangements will be announced by the family.
No matter the size of the business/company you run (whether an SME, a startup, or a multinational company), keeping your cash flow running is one of the most critical things you can do.
Unfortunately, sometimes that’s easier said than done!
Statistics show that 80% of MSME businesses in Africa fail within their first five years of operation due to cash flow issues. So, how can you save time and avoid late fees to keep your business running smoothly? The answer is recurring payments.
Avoid Late Payments With Recurring Payments
Late payments from customers can create cash flow issues and negatively impact your business operations. By implementing recurring payment options for customers, your business can proactively address this challenge and ensure timely and consistent revenue streams.
The benefits are enormous.
Recurring payments enable you to automate billing processes and collect payments on a predetermined schedule, minimising the risk of late or missed payments. It also provides a predictable cash flow.
How Recurring Payments Prevent Costly Delays
Creating invoices and processing payments manually is an inefficient way to run your business. Apart from consuming most of your time, there’s also the risk of costly errors which can negatively affect your business and customer relationships.
As such, utilising an automated process which efficiently saves time, reduces the risk of human errors and increases the efficiency of your payment process should be your obvious preference.
Enhancing Customer Relationships
A crucial benefit of recurring payments is that it also helps to strengthen customer relationships and loyalty. This payment method reduces friction points and reduces the payment burden on customers, so payment is streamlined and seamless. By offering a convenient and flexible payment option, such as recurring payments, you enhance your customer’s overall payment experience and reaffirm your commitment to their satisfaction and convenience. This ultimately helps to foster goodwill, loyalty, and trust with your customers.
Tips for Maximising the Benefits of Recurring Payments
To optimise the impact of recurring payments, here are a few strategies that you should implement.
- Offer tiered pricing
A tiered pricing strategy means you’re providing your customers with different product packages with specific benefits at different price points. This is an effective way to cater to the preferences and budgets of your different customers. This allows them to choose a pricing tier within their budget and a payment plan that’s convenient for them. You can also leverage customer data and analytics to personalise payment options and tailor offerings to individual preferences.
- Introduce proactive management
Taking proactive measures, such as updating customers about the expiry date on their credit card and other potential issues will effectively help avoid errors that can lead to late payment and disturb your cash flow. Proactive actions take away potential issues before they pop up, ensuring that the payment process remains unhindered. Also, ensuring your customer support is proactive in dealing with concerns or questions that customers may have helps to further improve the customer’s trust and confidence.
- Streamline the payment process
Streamline your payment process and make it seamless for customers. Ensure there are minimal steps in the checkout process and that the experience is as seamless as possible.
Conclusion
Forecast revenue and plan your expenditures easily by establishing regular payment cycles with SeerBit’s recurring payments solution.
The best part?
You significantly enhance your financial stability and business resilience.
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